This morning I was thinking about the statement by Paul to 'consider' one another. I think he said to be 'kind and considerate to one another'. Now this most assuredly has a context that I am leaving out in my writing but, just the statement itself is what popped into my mind this morning.
What is it to be considerate? I mean most of us assume we know it's meaning right? No I am not talking the Greek or Hebrew original meaning here. Just talking about the everyday use of the word. I think we have learned to accept a meaning that though familiar does not reach the intended reality spoken of by Paul. To consider another is a miracle of God and NOT just another thing that we can easily do or not do according to human effort in the flesh. It comes from Love and that is not something we inherited in the flesh. Think about all of the 'consideration' we experience in this world. I mean is it not just a mask of outward 'politeness' that only goes so far as to restrain ourselves out of edicit once in a while? I submit that being considerate is much better than anything we ever imagined according to the flesh! This is good news to the believer and sour news to the pretender![for they will go away disappointed] Being considerate is simply an out cropping of Love and love comes from God. No not 'all' love comes from God, that's not what I am saying. What I am saying is that the miraculous love that we have because of God IN us shows forth in consideration for another. It is quite natural in fact. It is often passed right over by the blind and is quite often not noticed by the living. Yet it IS there.
To consider someone else is to be concerned with things relating to THEM. Not based in a sense of fear or anything like that, but rather to be mindful of another out of love. Love wants no harm to come to another. Love wants the prosperity of another's soul. Love wants to be truthful with another. Love looks out for another and is mindful of another's sensitivities and weaknesses. Love looks to build up. Love considers another.
